20 Things More Expensive Now Than They Were Last Year

Posted by Doug Murray on May 13, 2020

Covid-19 has been affecting economies around the world, with millions of people losing their jobs or businesses, the price of oil tanking to lows most of us don’t even remember in our lifetimes, and some industries coming to a near standstill. Inevitably, a changing economy has also meant changes in how much we pay for things. Statistics Canada keeps a record of the monthly average retail prices of a variety of goods. We compared prices for March this year to the prices for March 2019 to find some of the things more expensive now than they were last year.

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Chicken

Chicken is one of the best foods to keep you thriving indoors, since it contains serotonin-boosting tryptophan. You’re going to need that happiness hormone when you see the price of chicken, though. A kilogram of chicken cost $7.29 in March last year, compared to $7.60 in March this year. That’s an increase of 4.25%.

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Ground beef

While some kinds of meat — including bacon — are actually cheaper now, ground beef is more expensive. A kilogram of ground beef cost $11.29 in March last year, compared to $11.77 in March this year. That’s an increase of 4.25%.

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Butter

Make sure you try some of the other tricks for dry and itchy skin before you resort to butter à la The Handmaid’s Tale. A 454 g block of butter — a pound — cost $4.99 in March last year, compared to $5.21 in March this year. That’s an increase of 4.41%.

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Mushrooms

If you really want versatile mushrooms to pep up your quarantine cooking, it might be a good idea to get one of the best cash back credit cards in Canada: it will come in much handier than travel points. A kilogram of mushrooms cost $8.66 in March last year, compared to $9.05 in March this year. That’s an increase of 4.5%.

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Ketchup

It may be time to experiment with different condiments on your comfort food. A litre of ketchup cost $3.66 in March last year, compared to $3.83 in March this year. That’s an increase of 4.65%.

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Bread

The idea that all carbs are bad is one of those health myths we all used to believe. However, there’s another reason why baking your own loaf full of healthy grains and seeds is a great idea. Flour may be cheaper but a 675 g loaf of bread cost $2.74 in March last year, compared to $2.90 in March this year. That’s an increase of 5.84%.

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Cigarettes

When there’s a pandemic of a highly infectious disease that impairs the ability to breathe, the last thing you want is to keep indulging in something that could be lowering your immune system and damages your lungs. If that’s not enough reason to quit smoking, here’s a fun fact for you: a carton of 200 cigarettes cost $118.83 in March last year, compared to $125.84 in March this year. That’s an increase of 5.9%.

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Soda crackers

If the stress and boredom of being stuck at home has you nibbling on those crackers every day, it might be a good idea to remind yourself that it won’t only mess with your weight but also with your wallet. A 450 g pack of soda crackers cost $3.27 in March last year, compared to $3.47 in March this year. That’s an increase of 6.12%.

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Canned tomatoes

Cutting down on your grocery bill is one of the ways to save $1,000 a month and one way to cut down on groceries is to rely less on processed foods like canned tomatoes and to start buying fresh for processing yourself instead. A 796 ml can of tomatoes cost $1.52 in March last year, compared to $1.62 in March this year. That’s an increase of 6.58%.

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Canned salmon

None of us want to get sick and be a burden on the healthcare system right now, so immune-boosting foods like Vitamin D-rich canned sockeye salmon are more important than ever. A 213 g can of salmon cost $5.68 in March last year, compared to $6.07 in March this year. That’s an increase of 6.87%. Still, it’s a small price to pay for staying healthy.

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Eggs

When you work from home and can’t enjoy much of a social life either, it’s the perfect time to experiment with DIY skincare treatments. Before you start making that egg white eye mask, however, bear in mind that a dozen eggs cost $3.11 in March last year, compared to $3.41 in March this year. That’s an increase of 9.65%.

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Apple juice

Apples are a little bit cheaper than they were last year but if you want to drink the juice instead of having something to munch on, you might want to invest in a juicer. A 1.36 litre carton of apple juice cost $2.06 in March last year, compared to $2.28 in March this year. That’s an increase of 10.68%.

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Potatoes

A 4.54 kg bag of potatoes cost $8.79 in March last year, compared to $9.78 in March this year. That’s an increase of 11.26%. Want to know how much Grandma spent on potatoes? In April 1995, a bag of potatoes cost a mere $2.88.

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Macaroni

Macaroni is a lightweight standby for hikers across the world but until you get to hike the best trails in Canada again, you might as well find comfort in mac and cheese — if you can afford it. A 500 g pack of macaroni cost $1.45 in March last year, compared to $1.64 in March this year. That’s an increase of 13.1%.

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Prime rib roast

If ever there was a good time to cut down on your intake of meat, this is it. A kilogram of prime rib roast cost $30.86 in March last year, compared to $35.24 in March this year. That’s an increase of 14.19%.

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Tomato juice

The good thing about not really being able to go out partying is that you don’t have to deal with the hangover in the morning, and that means you don’t need to start the day with a Bloody Mary. A 1.36 litre box of tomato juice cost $2.50 in March last year, compared to $2.86 in March this year. That’s an increase of 14.4%.

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Toothpaste

According to science, a smile is one of the physical traits that men are drawn to but it only counts if your pearly whites are, well, pearly white. Unfortunately a 100 ml tube of toothpaste cost $2.99 in March last year, compared to $3.43 in March this year. That’s an increase of 14.72%. Maybe that’s just the excuse you need to wear a face mask when you go out?

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Wieners

Before you slump down in front of the TV with yet another hot dog, bear in mind that a 450 g pack of wieners cost $4.33 in March last year, compared to $5.04 in March this year. That’s an increase of 16.4%. Besides, if you know what goes into those wieners you’ll quickly start considering a vegan friendly career.

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Baby food

If you have young kids and aren’t sure what the future holds career-wise, it’s more important now than ever before to know how to maximize your Canada child benefit. Besides, a 128 ml jar of baby food cost $1.27 in March last year, compared to $1.51 in March this year. That’s an increase of 18.9%.

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Frozen French fried potatoes

Of course you just want to sit on the couch and devour a plate of fries or poutine but keep this in mind: a 1 kg bag of frozen French fried potatoes cost $2.61 in March last year, compared to $3.15 in March this year. That’s an increase of a whopping 20.69%. This may be a good time to hand-cut your potatoes or, for a healthier option, sweet potatoes.